MEADVILLE, Pa. – March 18, 2008 – In what they are hoping will become an annual event in the region, the Association for the Advancement of Black Culture (ABC) at Allegheny College is organizing the first Northwestern Pennsylvania AIDS Walk.
The event, which will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 12 on Brooks Walk on the Allegheny campus, will bring together students, community leaders, health professionals and concerned citizens to raise funds to support the work of several community agencies and to create an increased awareness of the AIDS epidemic.
There is no charge to participate in the walk, although those who make a donation are eligible to win prizes.
“We have received a great response from the community because there has not been an AIDS Walk in this region,” said ABC president Afua Osei, a senior at Allegheny College. “We plan on having over 25 community sponsors representing companies, service organizations, churches and fraternities and sororities. ABC hopes that through our awareness events throughout the year and culminating with the AIDS Walk, more people will begin talking about AIDS and what they can do to keep themselves safe and healthy.”
ABC also has sponsored HIV testing on Valentine's Day through the Northwest Pennsylvania Rural AIDS Alliance and an HIV 101 informational workshop.
“ABC chose our service events this year on AIDS awareness since it is such an important issue that has global implications,” said Osei. “At this time, African Americans are overrepresented in new cases of HIV infection, and it is important that people talk about what are the structural factors causing this and how these can be changed to help stem the spread of HIV.”
To register for the walk, receive more information or serve as an official sponsor of the event, e-mail nwpa_aidswalk@yahoo.com or call (301) 461-5623.
